JAMB Chemistry Past Questions & Answers - Page 13

Ionic bonding occurs between a metal and a non-metal. The metal atom donates one or more electrons to the non-metal atom, resulting in the formation of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions. These oppositely charged ions are held together by electrostatic forces to form an ionic compound.

Ionization energy generally increases from left to right across a period. Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from a neutral atom, and as you move from left to right, the atomic size decreases, making it harder to remove an electron, and thus, the ionization energy increases.

To balance the redox reaction, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element and the total charge are the same on both sides of the equation. In this reaction, we can see that the number of oxygen (O) atoms is not balanced. To balance them, we need to add a coefficient of 3 in front of CO\(_2\) to get 3CO\(_2\). Similarly, the number of iron (Fe) atoms is not balanced. To balance them, we need to add a coefficient of 2 in front of Fe to get 2Fe

The reducing agent is the species that undergoes oxidation and causes the reduction of another species. In this reaction, zinc (Zn) is being oxidized to form zinc sulfate (ZnSO\(_4\)) while reducing copper sulfate (CuSO\(_4\)) to copper (Cu).

In the gas state of matter, particles are widely spaced and move freely with high kinetic energy. Gases do not have a definite shape or volume and will fill the entire available space.